He’s considered one of the most compassionate human beings in the world, but don’t let his “kindness is my religious” ever fool you into believing he is anything but strong. The 80-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate is also one of the most wise and intelligent world leaders and he proves this in a recent tweet. (Yes, His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet is on Twitter @DalaiLama.)
“The time has come for us to consider seriously how to change our way of life not through prayer religious teaching, but through education.” -Dalai Lama
Here is the YouTube video (via the DalaiLama.com) showing part of his speech at the Mayo Clinic, in Rochester, Minnesota on February 29, 2016. In the short clip, Dalai Lama’s English is broken, but his message has the capacity to repair humanity.
Dalai Lama talks about how change starts with each of us—as individuals. And it takes work. It takes action. We must help humanity become a compassionate humanity by setting an example which ultimately leads to the education of others. Here are some excerpts from the video:
“I dedicated all my life until my death…I said try to make little contribution as much as I can.”
“We have to work. Change starts from individuals.”
“Firstly we are individuals. We should practice these things, then make an example to others. Then, more and more people will share your experience. From one person, at least there are family members and friends. Then ten people. These ten people share with their friends. That means a hundred people. A hundred people.. the same way. Then thousands of people, ten thousand, a hundred thousand, a million, a hundred million...”
Given the state of this country, a nation that has allowed a racist, bigoted, xenophobic, and misogynistic man like Donald Trump become the presumptive Republican presidential candidate, it is clear we need to educate others, and we have it within each of us to educate others by speaking, seeking, and living truth.
Here are other well-loved quotes by His Holiness, The 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet:
- “Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.” ― Dalai Lama XIV
- “Love is the absence of judgment.” ― Dalai Lama XIV
- “If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.” ― Dalai Lama XIV
- “My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.” ― Dalai Lama XIV
- “Every day, think as you wake up, today I am fortunate to be alive, I have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it. I am going to use all my energies to develop myself, to expand my heart out to others; to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings. I am going to have kind thoughts towards others, I am not going to get angry or think badly about others. I am going to benefit others as much as I can.” ― Dalai Lama XIV
- “Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive.” ― Dalai Lama XIV, The Art of Happiness